1 Chronicles 13 - 17
In summary:
The Chronicler underlines two key events in Judah’s history; the establishment of Jerusalem as the center of worship to Yahweh and Yahweh’s covenant with David and his descendants.
The Chronicler underlines two key events in Judah’s history; the establishment of Jerusalem as the center of worship to Yahweh and Yahweh’s covenant with David and his descendants.
In more detail:
If we can evaluate the importance of a Biblical theme by the space that the Bible dedicates in explaining it, then according to the Chronicler, the transport of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem was one of the most important events in all of David’s reign.
This event was described in one chapter in 2 Samuel (chapter 6); here in 1 Chronicles it holds our attention for three chapters. Once again we see the Chronicler’s desire for a united Israel submitted to the house of David, the royal house that promotes a wholehearted devotion to Yahweh.
Notice the difference in emphasis from the first verses in today’s reading. While 2 Samuel told us of David’s plans only by saying, “David again gathered all the chosen
men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:1, 2), the
Chronicler goes into more detail so that his readers / listeners from the Exile appreciate the cooperation of all Israel in the project and imitate their unity: “David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.’ All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people (1 Chronicles 13:1-4). Notice the consultation of all the leaders, the desire to submit to Yahweh’s will, the gathering of all Israelites, the recognition of neglect of attention to the Ark and the ratification by the assembly, all important themes that do not stand out in the narrative of 2 Samuel. Just as Moses underlined new details in his summary of Israelite history to direct his listeners to obedience (as we saw in our explanation of Deuteronomy 4:12), the Chronicler includes details that did not appear earlier. He wants his readers and listeners to understand their history in a new light and apply lessons they may not have seen before. What was presented quickly in 2 Samuel as a royal decision with the general support of Israel now includes elements of determination in following
Yahweh, repentance for negligence and a complete and intentional unity dedicated to honoring Him. This is how the Chronicler gives the example from the forefathers of the transplanted exiles so that they too can enjoy the blessings of the same God whom their fathers worshiped.
Notice too, the different placement of events in today’s reading. The narrative of 2 Samuel 5 recounted David’s blessings – his victory over the Jebusites, Hiram’s diplomatic mission, the growth of David’s family and his victory over the Philistines. Afterwards, 2 Samuel 6 tells about the Ark, and 2 Samuel 7, Yahweh’s covenant. All this gives the impression of growing blessings, from the physical to the spiritual, from blessings in a specific historic moment to those that touch generations and even eternity. The
Chronicler reorders these blessings and places them after the first attempt to move the Ark, after Uzzah’s tragedy. This way, the blessings of the diplomatic mission, the growth of David’s family and the victory over the Philistines now in 1 Chronicles 14 seem to
confirm Yahweh’s blessing in moving the Ark even though the first attempt failed. Just as 2 Samuel 6:12 emphasized the blessings on the house of Obed-edom as the green light to try and move the Ark again, the Davidic blessings in 1 Chronicles 14 suggest wider blessings, even national ones, to motive them to continue the project. Perhaps this is a subtle lesson from the Chronicler to his readers that after they commit to glorifying Yahweh, if they encounter obstacles, they nevertheless are to go forward knowing that Yahweh will bless abundantly their plans on a national level.
Notice too, that when they carry the Ark in 1 Chronicles 15, David underlines a lesson that was not mentioned in 2 Samuel: “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD, and to minister to him forever” (1 Chronicles 15:2). Remember that one of the main themes of 1 and 2 Chronicles is the privileged place of the Levites in the worship of Yahweh, and therefore what was passed over in silence in 2 Samuel 6 as being understood by the reader is
declared specifically now to encourage readers returning from the exile to obedience.
Therefore, since we are familiar with the events in today’s reading for having read them in 2 Samuel, we can appreciate the underlining of details and placement of events as strategies by the Chronicler to communicate a new agenda for the exiles, calling them to dedicate themselves to the example of their forefathers in obeying the law and persevering in their devotion to Yahweh. Even today, these chapters speak to us of the centrality of worship to Yahweh, an orderly, passionate and unified worship with everyone’s participation, worship in thankfulness for the new covenant that we have through the Anointed One above all, Jesus Christ.
If we can evaluate the importance of a Biblical theme by the space that the Bible dedicates in explaining it, then according to the Chronicler, the transport of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem was one of the most important events in all of David’s reign.
This event was described in one chapter in 2 Samuel (chapter 6); here in 1 Chronicles it holds our attention for three chapters. Once again we see the Chronicler’s desire for a united Israel submitted to the house of David, the royal house that promotes a wholehearted devotion to Yahweh.
Notice the difference in emphasis from the first verses in today’s reading. While 2 Samuel told us of David’s plans only by saying, “David again gathered all the chosen
men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:1, 2), the
Chronicler goes into more detail so that his readers / listeners from the Exile appreciate the cooperation of all Israel in the project and imitate their unity: “David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.’ All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people (1 Chronicles 13:1-4). Notice the consultation of all the leaders, the desire to submit to Yahweh’s will, the gathering of all Israelites, the recognition of neglect of attention to the Ark and the ratification by the assembly, all important themes that do not stand out in the narrative of 2 Samuel. Just as Moses underlined new details in his summary of Israelite history to direct his listeners to obedience (as we saw in our explanation of Deuteronomy 4:12), the Chronicler includes details that did not appear earlier. He wants his readers and listeners to understand their history in a new light and apply lessons they may not have seen before. What was presented quickly in 2 Samuel as a royal decision with the general support of Israel now includes elements of determination in following
Yahweh, repentance for negligence and a complete and intentional unity dedicated to honoring Him. This is how the Chronicler gives the example from the forefathers of the transplanted exiles so that they too can enjoy the blessings of the same God whom their fathers worshiped.
Notice too, the different placement of events in today’s reading. The narrative of 2 Samuel 5 recounted David’s blessings – his victory over the Jebusites, Hiram’s diplomatic mission, the growth of David’s family and his victory over the Philistines. Afterwards, 2 Samuel 6 tells about the Ark, and 2 Samuel 7, Yahweh’s covenant. All this gives the impression of growing blessings, from the physical to the spiritual, from blessings in a specific historic moment to those that touch generations and even eternity. The
Chronicler reorders these blessings and places them after the first attempt to move the Ark, after Uzzah’s tragedy. This way, the blessings of the diplomatic mission, the growth of David’s family and the victory over the Philistines now in 1 Chronicles 14 seem to
confirm Yahweh’s blessing in moving the Ark even though the first attempt failed. Just as 2 Samuel 6:12 emphasized the blessings on the house of Obed-edom as the green light to try and move the Ark again, the Davidic blessings in 1 Chronicles 14 suggest wider blessings, even national ones, to motive them to continue the project. Perhaps this is a subtle lesson from the Chronicler to his readers that after they commit to glorifying Yahweh, if they encounter obstacles, they nevertheless are to go forward knowing that Yahweh will bless abundantly their plans on a national level.
Notice too, that when they carry the Ark in 1 Chronicles 15, David underlines a lesson that was not mentioned in 2 Samuel: “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD, and to minister to him forever” (1 Chronicles 15:2). Remember that one of the main themes of 1 and 2 Chronicles is the privileged place of the Levites in the worship of Yahweh, and therefore what was passed over in silence in 2 Samuel 6 as being understood by the reader is
declared specifically now to encourage readers returning from the exile to obedience.
Therefore, since we are familiar with the events in today’s reading for having read them in 2 Samuel, we can appreciate the underlining of details and placement of events as strategies by the Chronicler to communicate a new agenda for the exiles, calling them to dedicate themselves to the example of their forefathers in obeying the law and persevering in their devotion to Yahweh. Even today, these chapters speak to us of the centrality of worship to Yahweh, an orderly, passionate and unified worship with everyone’s participation, worship in thankfulness for the new covenant that we have through the Anointed One above all, Jesus Christ.
